Info about Touhou Mystia's Izakaya:

Official game description:
Prelude
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Today, the young night sparrow youkai Mystia Lorelei is still chasing her dream——  
Her dream to become the most popular izakaya owner in Gensokyo.  
Day after day, she worked hard making a name for herself and attracting customers from all over Gensokyo.  
Then, on one fateful day, a certain customer paid her a visit.  
On that day, both her dream and her future were shattered.  
Having lost everything, she had to restart from scratch.  
And so, her life indebted to the tyrannical Yakumo family began...  
**“Don’t underestimate a grass root youkai’s aspiration and determination!  
I will protect thatfull and satisfied smiles of Gensokyo’s people!”**  
The young night sparrow will never give up.  
Besides, having being helped by Mystia, the powerful residents of Gensokyo will surely return the favor!  
1.Core Gameplay
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A brand new izakaya simulation gameplay!  
You play as Mystia, the proud owner of a mobile izakaya. During the day, you collect ingredients all over Gensokyo, learn new recipes, collect or buy beverages... all in order to create the perfect dining experience. In other words, there is no battle and no danmaku in this game, only customers with varying demands that you need to fulfill!  
△You izakaya will be visited by different customers every night. They have different preferences, budget, and favourite dishes.  
Serve customers and remember their preferences, fill your cooking with music and love, and cook the perfect dish for each customer!  
Meanwhile, familiar characters from Gensokyomay visit as rare customers.Instead of ordering directly, they only give hints on what they want to eat.If you can satisfy them, they will give you special rewards using their unique “reward spell cards”!  
If you learn what each reward spell card does and string them into powerful combos, earning a hundred thousand yen a night isn’t a dream!  
△After satisfying Rumia’s preference, she will happily reward you with three meat ingredients  
△By satisfying rare customers consecutively, a combo reward is triggered!  
But what happens if you disappoint them?  
They will unleash their “punish spell cards” and punish you in the name of Gensokyo!  
△Serving dishes carelessly earns you a headbutt from sensei.  
2.Numerous Characters and Events
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2.1 After the first appearance of each rare customer, Mystia will record information about them in her notebook, including their food and drink preferences, frequently appearing areas, and a funny little description.  
During daytime, she can communicate with them and enhance her bond with them. After reaching a certain bond level, they will provide Mystia with powerful support! Can you become best friends with your favorite characters?  
△Mystia’s handbook is full of useful information and secrets  
△As bond level increases, your customers become you friends and can provide you with many supports  
2.2 While operating, Mystia will gain many companions, who can help with running the restaurant. They can serve dishes, serve beverages, or cook. With three companions, you can simply sit back and relax while they run the restaurant - though you still need to cater to the rare customers yourself.  
△Each companion can only perform one job. Set jobs for your companions before you open for business.  
△Kosuzu is busy cooking, Sakuya is serving beverages, and... Reisen! Stop goofing off!  
2.3 By meeting and chatting with your friends, you can learn their stories, build stronger bonds. All your seemingly ordinary friends all have their own stories, and would only share them with you when they consider you a true friend.  
△Wriggle is already Mystia’s friend, so she speaks casually around her  
△With business at the shrine improving, Reimu’s brows finally loosened  
△The memory of Gensokyo, born for the sake of completing the Gensokyo Chronicle, Akyuu has never had a life of her own  
Each character has their own storyline.If you delve into them, you can learn their stories, whether happy or sad.  
3\. The bright and colorful world of Gensokyo
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As the game proceeds, you will gain access to six primary locations: Youkai Trail, Human Village, Hakurei Shrine, Scarlet Devil Mansion, Bamboo Forest of The Lost, and Hakugyokurou.  
Each of these locations is meticulously illustrated to recreatethe details and settings from the source material.  
△The starting location, Youkai Trail  
△The Human Village, crowded and filled with merchants and shops  
△The quietHakurei Shrine  
△Home of the jovial devil, Scarlet Devil Mansion  
△Mysterious, dangerous, yet attractive, the Bamboo Forest of The Lost  
4.Charming collectibles
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Mystia’s basement has plenty of room for all sorts of collectibles, including costumes, event CG albums, soundtrack CDs, and decorations from friends.  
In the basement, you can put on your favorite costume, view the CGs for events that had occurred, listen to music, or use decorations to improve your business.  
△Mystia’s closet has many cute costumes  
△Event CG album, where you can view your favourite events  
△Music CDs, where you can put your favourite track on loop  
△Decorations, which grant unique benefits to your business  
5.Unforgettable audiovisual enjoyment
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As a pixel art game, we spent a lot of time on the visual presentation for Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya to create a smooth visual experience for players. Also, every in-game soundtrackwas painstakingly composed, and I believe any one of them can become one of your favorites in your MP3.  
5.1 Over 30 desktop-level high resolution pixel CG  
5.2 More than 30 finely crafted character artworks  
5.3 More than 30 melodious BGM soundtracks  
There are still more surprises waiting to be found in the game…  
**Become a successful yet personable izakaya owner**  
**And accomplish your dream to sing freely in the whole Gensokyo!**

Release date: 1 Oct, 2021

Categories: Restaurant Management, Management Simulation, Resource Management, Character Relationships & Romance, Single-player Story, Rhythm Game, Progression System, Exploration


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Highly Engaging & Addictive Gameplay (weight 0.91): Players consistently describe the game as fun, engaging, and highly addictive, often losing track of time while playing. The core gameplay loop, combining casual elements with strategic depth, keeps players hooked for extended sessions.
- Accessible Touhou Fan Game (weight 0.56): The game is praised as an excellent Touhou fan game that is highly accessible to both long-time fans and newcomers. It serves as a great entry point to the Touhou universe, allowing players to enjoy the characters and lore without prior knowledge.
- Charming Pixel Art & Cute Characters (weight 0.31): The game's art style, particularly its exquisite pixel art and cute character designs, is a major draw. Players find the visuals warm, appealing, and contributing significantly to the overall charming and cozy atmosphere.
- Excellent Value for Money (weight 0.22): Reviewers frequently highlight the game's exceptional value for its price, often noting the substantial amount of content in the base game and the worthwhile nature of its DLCs. Many players purchased all DLCs due to their enjoyment.
- Relaxing & Stress-Free Experience (weight 0.19): The game is widely appreciated for its relaxing and healing atmosphere, making it an ideal choice for unwinding. Features like the ability to pause gameplay and a gentle difficulty curve contribute to a low-pressure experience.
- Vivid Character Portrayals & Interactions (weight 0.16): The game excels in its character writing, with vivid portrayals, humorous dialogues, and distinct personalities. Interactions with the diverse cast are engaging and contribute significantly to the game's charm and immersive story.
- Overall Positive Reception (weight 0.13): General positive feedback indicates a well-received game, with many players expressing deep satisfaction and recommending it. This cluster includes general praise and personal enjoyment without specific details.
- Outstanding Music & Soundtrack (weight 0.11): The game's music is consistently praised for being melodious, healing, and memorable. The soundtrack dynamically matches the game's pace and atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- Immersive Gensokyo World (weight 0.08): The game effectively embodies the world of Gensokyo, creating a harmonious and immersive atmosphere. Players enjoy interacting with its characters and experiencing a sense of belonging within this beloved setting.

Common complaints:
- Challenging & Unfair Boss Battles (weight 0.33): Boss battles are frequently cited as poorly designed, frustrating, and having sudden difficulty spikes. Players often feel they require external guides or excessive trial-and-error, detracting from the overall experience.
- Inconvenient Save System (weight 0.3): The inability to save at any time, only at the end of a business day, is a major point of frustration. This forces players into long sessions and can lead to significant progress loss if they need to quit unexpectedly.
- Repetitive & Tedious Gameplay (weight 0.3): Many players find the core gameplay loop, especially gathering and cooking, becomes highly repetitive and boring in the mid-to-late stages. This leads to a lack of motivation and a feeling of being tired or overwhelmed after extended play sessions.
- Long Grind & Time Commitment (weight 0.28): The game requires a significant time investment, particularly for maxing out character relationships and completing all content, especially with DLCs. This extended grind contributes to feelings of tedium and can wear players down.
- DLC Content Issues (weight 0.27): DLCs are perceived as expensive, sometimes repetitive, and can introduce content that feels padded or difficult to integrate without guides. Some DLCs are seen as fan-service rather than substantial additions for all players.
- Awkward Rhythm Game Elements (weight 0.05): The rhythm game mini-games, particularly in DLCs, are often described as awkward, too easy, or overly difficult depending on the player. Their implementation feels inconsistent and can be annoying rather than enjoyable.
- Clunky Controls & Difficulty (weight 0.03): Some players found the controls, especially on Switch or keyboard, to be clunky or awkward initially. The game can also be stressful or difficult for players with poor dexterity, though difficulty often decreases with understanding.
- Confusing Touhou Lore (weight 0.03): Players unfamiliar with Touhou lore find parts of the story and character interactions confusing, as the game assumes prior knowledge. This can make it difficult to fully engage with the narrative.
- Unclear Customer Requests (weight 0.03): Customers often do not clearly state their preferences, forcing players to guess or remember specific dishes. This can lead to frustration, bad reviews, and broken combos, especially with special guests.
- Achievement & Bug Issues (weight 0.02): Players reported issues with achievements not unlocking after patches and accidental save overwrites. There are also mentions of specific bugs, such as one in DLC2 related to boss battle triggers.
- Unreliable Cloud Saves (weight 0.02): Several players reported issues with Steam cloud saves, including lost progress, missing DLC completion data, and disappearing save files after periods of inactivity, leading to significant frustration.

Gameplay feedback:
- Dual-Phase Core Gameplay Loop (weight 0.38): The game features a distinct two-phase gameplay loop: daytime for gathering ingredients, exploring, completing quests, and building relationships, and nighttime for managing a restaurant, cooking, and serving customers. This structure provides varied activities and strategic depth.
- Customer Preference & Recipe Management (weight 0.29): Players must carefully manage customer preferences, especially for 'rare guests,' who have specific likes, dislikes, and order based on dish tags. This often requires consulting an in-game encyclopedia and customizing dishes to meet complex requirements.
- Character Relationships & Unlocks (weight 0.28): Building relationships with various characters is crucial, as it unlocks new recipes, skills, outfits, auto-gatherers, and even boss fights. Players need to understand character preferences and engage in dialogue and quests to deepen these bonds.
- Content Volume & DLC Expansion (weight 0.15): The game offers a substantial amount of content, with a long playtime for completionists. Multiple DLCs further expand the game with new maps, characters, recipes, challenges, and even a roguelike mode, enhancing replayability.
- Debt Repayment & Progression Goals (weight 0.13): A core objective involves earning money to diligently pay off debts, which drives progression. The game also features shop reinforcement and a system for collecting reward spell cards, providing clear financial and strategic goals.
- Casual Yet Engaging Difficulty (weight 0.12): The game is generally considered casual and easy to pick up, with simple controls and a time-stop feature. However, it can become busy and challenging, especially in later stages or for players aiming for high scores and profit maximization, offering a balanced difficulty curve.
- Touhou Project Universe & Art (weight 0.11): The game is set in the Touhou Project universe, featuring its characters and lore, presented with charming pixel art. This theme is a significant draw for fans, offering a unique setting for the cooking and management gameplay.
- Rhythm Game Cooking Mechanic (weight 0.08): Cooking incorporates a rhythm game element, often synced to music, which affects cooking speed and accuracy. Successful rhythm sequences can grant buffs, adding an active and engaging layer to the cooking process.

Performance notes:
- Long loading times and HDD noise (weight 0.01): Some players experienced excessively long map loading times, exceeding ten minutes, accompanied by significant hard drive noise. This issue was resolved for one player by upgrading their old HDD.
- Good performance on low-spec PCs (weight 0.01): Players report that the game runs smoothly even on older, less powerful hardware, including integrated graphics, at decent resolutions. This indicates good optimization for a wide range of systems.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.01): The game frequently crashes for some users, with one player speculating that Windows 11 might be a contributing factor. This significantly impacts game stability.
- Smooth PS4 controller support (weight 0.01): The game offers very smooth and responsive gameplay when using a PS4 controller, suggesting good integration for gamepad users.
- High GPU utilization (weight 0.01): One player noted that the game exhibits high GPU utilization, suggesting potential optimization issues despite running well on lower-spec machines. This could indicate inefficient resource management.
- Small game size (weight 0): The game has a small installation size, which is a positive for players with limited storage space.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended for Fans & Newcomers (weight 0.43): The game is overwhelmingly recommended for both existing Touhou fans and newcomers to the series, often serving as an excellent entry point. It also strongly appeals to fans of simulation management, cooking, and tycoon games, regardless of Touhou familiarity.
- DLCs Enhance Experience (weight 0.17): Many players recommend purchasing DLCs, especially during sales, to enrich the gameplay experience and provide additional content. Some suggest buying the base game first, while others advocate for a bundle to unlock the full potential.
- Enjoy Leisurely, Avoid Burnout (weight 0.03): Players advise enjoying the game at a slow pace, playing for short durations daily to prevent repetition and burnout. Rushing through the content might diminish the overall enjoyment.
- Controller Play Recommended (weight 0.02): A significant number of players specifically recommend playing the game with a controller, suggesting it enhances the experience, particularly on handheld consoles.
- Difficulty Needs Adjustment (weight 0.01): Some players feel the game's difficulty curve could be improved, with suggestions for both increasing and adjusting the overall challenge.
- Recipe Acquisition System Flawed (weight 0.01): There's feedback regarding the recipe acquisition system, noting that while increasing character bonds grants recipes, characters sometimes dislike the very recipes they provide for quests, creating a contradictory experience.
- Immersive Gensokyo Experience (weight 0.01): Players express a strong desire to immerse themselves in the game's world, Gensokyo, and enjoy interacting with its characters, often overlooking minor flaws for this experience.
- Comparison to Dave the Diver (weight 0.01): There are mixed opinions when comparing the game to 'Dave the Diver,' with some reviewers preferring 'Mystia's Izakaya' and others finding it less favorable. This is based on limited feedback.

Other player notes:
- Excellent Touhou Introduction (weight 0.19): Many players, including those unfamiliar with the Touhou IP, found this game to be an excellent and accessible entry point into the series. Its high quality and engaging gameplay attracted new fans and deepened existing ones' appreciation for the Touhou universe.
- Future Content & Multiplayer Hopes (weight 0.03): Players are eager for future content, including more maps, DLC characters, and potential new games from the developer. There's also a desire for a multiplayer version of the game and a guest invitation feature.
- Suggestions for Recipe System (weight 0.02): Players have offered constructive feedback regarding the recipe system, suggesting improvements such as an enhanced preset recipe system, custom naming functions, and a button to automatically inherit the last recipe.
- Minor Cultural Depth Observation (weight 0.01): Some players lightheartedly noted a perceived lack of cultural depth, though this observation did not detract from their overall positive experience with the game.
- Limited Language Support (weight 0.01): The game currently only supports English, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese translations, which might limit its accessibility for a wider international audience.
- Similar to Other Games (weight 0.01): Players have noted similarities between this game and other titles like Reccetear, Stardew Valley, and Dave the Diver, indicating a familiar and potentially appealing gameplay loop for fans of those genres.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.3): Players feel satisfied by the game's high quality, engaging gameplay loop, charming characters, and beautiful art/music. Achieving in-game goals like completing achievements, mastering mechanics, or finishing content also contributes significantly to this emotion. The game's value for money, accessibility, and ability to introduce players to the Touhou IP are frequently cited as sources of satisfaction.
- Joy (weight 0.13): Joy stems primarily from the game's cute art style, delightful characters, and warm, relaxing atmosphere. The fun and casual gameplay, engaging character interactions, and the overall enjoyable experience of playing the game contribute to a sense of happiness and lightheartedness. Many reviewers express pure enjoyment and a feeling of childhood gaming happiness.
- Excitement (weight 0.12): Excitement is driven by the game's highly addictive and engaging gameplay, often leading to intense play sessions and strong recommendations. The anticipation of new content, the thrill of expanding the diner, and the overall high quality of the game contribute to a sense of enthusiasm and eagerness to continue playing. The game's ability to cure 'gaming fatigue' and its status as a 'masterpiece' also generate excitement.
- Frustration (weight 0.05): Frustration arises from various gameplay and quality-of-life issues, including repetitive late-game content, difficult boss battles (especially in DLCs), and inconvenient save systems. Players also express frustration with high controller sensitivity, unclear mechanics, and the grind required for certain aspects like maxing relationships or acquiring ingredients. Minor UI/UX issues and incomplete translations also contribute to this negative emotion.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Enjoyment is broadly caused by the game's fun and addictive gameplay, appealing art style, and engaging story. Players appreciate the interesting restaurant management mechanics, character interactions, and the overall pleasant experience of playing. The game's ability to provide a fun time, even for those not typically fond of the genre, is a key factor.
- Engagement (weight 0.04): Engagement is characterized by players losing track of time, playing for extended periods, and feeling deeply immersed in the game's world and mechanics. The addictive gameplay loop, challenging customers, and the desire to progress and learn recipes contribute to a strong pull to continue playing. The game's ability to make players forget real-world needs like eating and sleeping is a strong indicator of high engagement.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is directed towards the game's exceptional quality in art, music, and overall design, especially considering its status as a fan-made work. Players praise the developers' dedication, the faithful portrayal of Touhou characters, and the clever integration of gameplay elements. The game's cute pixel art style and charming characters are also significant sources of admiration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.03): Disappointment stems from repetitive late-game content, a perceived lack of replayability, and issues with translation or optimization. Players also express disappointment with the short main story, limited customization options, and the game not meeting expectations for being casual or relaxing. Specific issues like achievements not unlocking or save data loss also contribute to this feeling.
- Addiction (weight 0.03): Addiction is a strong response to the game's highly engaging and compelling gameplay loop, particularly the restaurant management and collection aspects. Players report being unable to stop playing, losing track of time, and feeling a constant desire to return to the game. The game's ability to engross players to the point of neglecting real-life activities is a common theme.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation is shown for the game's thoughtful design, faithful integration of Touhou lore and characters, and the evident effort put in by the developers. Players value the game's accessibility for newcomers, its unique blend of cultural elements, and its high quality as a fan creation. The excellent pixel art, music, and engaging story are frequently appreciated.
- Relaxation (weight 0.02): Relaxation is a key emotion derived from the game's casual, cozy, and stress-relieving gameplay. Players find comfort in the healing atmosphere, soothing music, and low difficulty, making it an ideal game for unwinding after work or during leisure time. The simple cooking activities and overall tranquil pace contribute to a calming experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Amusement is caused by the game's quirky customer behavior, humorous character interactions, and lighthearted dialogue. Players find humor in exaggerated descriptions of busyness, unexpected in-game events, and playful observations about game mechanics or characters. The game's overall charming and witty tone contributes to this enjoyable emotion.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise often arises from the game exceeding initial expectations, particularly its unexpected fun and engaging nature, even for players who typically dislike the genre. The game's quality, unexpected intensity, or the sheer amount of time players unconsciously spend playing also contribute to this positive surprise. Discovering rhythm game elements or unexpected depth can also be surprising.
- Affection (weight 0.01): Affection is felt towards the game's cute characters, particularly the proprietress, and its overall adorable aesthetic. Players develop strong connections to the characters and express fondness for their designs and interactions. The game's ability to evoke a sense of warmth and endearment through its visuals and character portrayal is central to this emotion.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Immersion is experienced through the game's captivating atmosphere, busy and high-intensity gameplay, and engaging story. Players report losing track of time, feeling deeply drawn into the game's world, and even having their real-life thoughts influenced by game elements. The game's ability to make players feel like they are truly running a shop in Gensokyo is a strong cause.
- Calmness (weight 0.01): Calmness is a result of the game's stress-relieving and healing qualities, often attributed to its cute art, cozy daily life simulation, and relaxing music. The slow pace and comfortable story interludes provide a tranquilizing effect, making the game a suitable choice for players seeking a peaceful and low-stress gaming experience.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is demonstrated through strong recommendations for the game, especially to newcomers to the Touhou series or fans of the genre. Players express excitement about the game's quality, its appeal, and the potential for future content. The game's ability to introduce players to the Touhou franchise also generates significant enthusiasm.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love represents a deep appreciation for the game's overall quality, personal significance, and its impact on players. This emotion is often tied to the game's story, music, pixel art, and its ability to become a personal favorite. For Touhou fans, it also signifies a profound connection to the franchise and the game's cultural impact.
- Recommendation (weight 0.01): Recommendation is driven by the game's perceived value, engaging gameplay, and broad appeal to various audiences, including Touhou fans and simulation enthusiasts. Players strongly suggest the game to others, often highlighting its accessibility for new players and the worthwhile experience it offers, especially with DLCs.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation is primarily caused by the desire for future content, such as DLCs, new features, or story developments. Players look forward to continuing their gameplay experience, completing the game, or exploring new works from the developers. The game's quality and engaging nature create a strong desire for more content.}